Lacs-Albanel-Mistassini-et-Waconichi Wildlife Reserve

Established in 1953 from a hunting and fishing reserve created five years earlier, the Lacs-Albanel-Mistassini-et-Waconichi Wildlife Reserve protects an exceptional 16,400-square-kilometre territory in the heart of Jamésie. Following a co-management period with Société des établissements de plein air du Québec beginning in 2005, full management was delegated to the Cree Nation of Mistissini in 2017, marking a significant evolution toward Indigenous territorial autonomy in this part of northern Quebec. Lake Mistassini, the undisputed jewel of this reserve, is Quebec's largest natural lake entirely within the province's borders. Its immensity draws frequent comparisons to an inland sea among first-time visitors discovering the full scale of this magnificent body of water nestled within boreal forest and taiga. Sport fishing enthusiasts consider this region a premier destination, as the territory's exceptional hydrographic network, which also includes Lake Albanel, is home to particularly robust populations of lake trout, northern pike, walleye, and brook trout—species whose impressive sizes regularly fuel the most memorable fishing stories shared by visitors. The Cree Nation of Mistissini, whose administrative headquarters sits directly on the lake's shore, welcomes visitors eager to combine exploration of this outstanding wilderness with discovery of contemporary Eeyou culture.